The game would be the first NFL game ever played in France.
There aren’t too many football fans who would purposely turn on a game featuring the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints these days. Neither franchise has been on the winning side very much in the past few years.
Despite that, the NFL still decided that these two teams would be the marquee matchup for an international game.
Cleveland is coming off a disappointing 2025 season that led to the firing of head coach Kevin Stefanski. Spencer Rattler was so bad at quarterback that New Orleans had to replace him late in the 2025 season. They are headed into year two with Kellen Moore as head coach.
With both teams having questions at quarterback, the NFL still decided to send them both to France. According to a report from RMC Sport on X, the Browns and Saints are set to play in France in 2026. This game would make NFL history as the first NFL game played in France.
The Browns & Saints Will Go Head-To-Head Inside Stade de France
Paris is getting an NFL matchup. The New Orleans Saints are expected to play the Cleveland Browns on October 25, 2026. This matchup will take place inside Stade de France, the country’s largest stadium.
New Orleans will host Cleveland, as they are designated as the home team. The selection aligns with the franchise’s growing ties to France. They have partnerships with local organizations such as the Paris Musketeers of the European League of Football.
“We are excited to be selected to play in the first regular season game to take place in France,” said Benson. “This moment is special not only because of the strong cultural connection between Louisiana and France, but also because we will compete in front of a growing Saints fanbase in Paris.”
The Cleveland Browns have played in international games before. Their first regular-season game overseas occurred in 2017 in London. They also played in London this past season. The Saints have played three games internationally since 2008. All of those games (2008, 2017, 2022) have been played in London.
